Dataset

Describes the dataset for the workshop

Project data

For the workshop, we will be using a greatly reduced dataset from the Wetland Intervention Monitoring Projects (WIMP; thanks Kay Morris 👏). Note - We have done some masking of the data.

Each day we will provide a Rstudio project that will have the data as well. If you want to start from scratch, click on link below to download project data files and go from there.

Download project data

Project overview

Purpose

Goal: Improving grazing management

Questions: How does grazing affect wetland plants?

The grazing hypothesis guiding this research is the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis.

Experimental design

Study sites

Across western and eastern Victoria, a total of 28 sites were selected to be surveyed. These sites were spread across 5 Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) but with the majority of sites in the western CMAs. Sites were chosen partly to cover a wide variation in grazing intensity.

Monitoring

In each wetland, we are assessing how vegetation changes over time inside two trial plots. Each trial plot is about 0.25 ha in size. One plot is open to the grazing management being applied in the wetland and the other plot is fenced to exclude livestock (sheep and cattle). Monitoring is done when the wetland is drying out but still wet as this is the when most wetland plants are present. Monitoring is done along transects and quadrats in each plot before fencing, and then every year after fencing for 3-5 years.

Data overview

Main Excel file

CSV survey

CSV